Hawaii's Breland Almadova scored the team's fourth run in the sixth inning, beating the throw from second.

The Hawaii baseball team is a quarter of the way through Western Athletic Conference play and still hasn't tasted defeat.

Michael Blake hit a go-ahead two-run single and Breland Almadova finished 2-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs to lead the Rainbows to a 10-2 victory over Louisiana Tech last night in front of a Les Murakami Stadium crowd of 3,151.

Hawaii (20-14 overall) matched the best WAC start in school history, starting 6-0 in league play for the first time since 1988.

The victory was the 300th for head coach Mike Trapasso, who chose to instead focus on his team's ninth win in its last 10 games.

"We're playing well because we're getting really good pitching and playing really good defense," Trapasso said. "We're leaving guys on base, but we're finding a way to scratch enough guys across."

Will Alvis hit two solo homers to give him a team-high seven for the Bulldogs (17-17, 2-4).

Hawaii put the game out of reach by scoring six times in the eighth to secure its eighth win in a row.

After striking out five of the first eight batters he faced, UH starter Jarrett Arakawa labored through the middle innings, allowing the first two runners on in the fourth and fifth.

Alvis' homer to lead off the fifth cleared the 385-foot sign in center to put the Bulldogs up 1-0. LaTech had a chance to do more damage in the inning, but Arakawa, after a quick visit from Trapasso, got Joey Ford to bounce out with the bases loaded to end the threat.

"I was considering taking him out," Trapasso said. "When we answered in the fifth and got the lead, I was hoping he could go one more inning before we went to the 'pen and he really impressed me with putting up zeroes in the sixth and the seventh."

From then on it was all Hawaii, as the Rainbows finally got to LaTech starter Jeb Stefan in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three times.

Stefan walked Jeff Van Doornum with the bases loaded and Blake followed with a two-run single up the middle to put the 'Bows in front 3-1.

Almadova doubled with one out in the sixth and scored on a fielder's choice by Pi'ikea Kitamura after stealing third.

The Bulldogs brought the infield in after Almadova's stolen base and Kitamura hit a hard grounder right at second baseman Austin Hedges, but the speedy Almadova beat the throw home to put UH up 4-1.

Arakawa (4-2) put the final touches on another superb outing, retiring the final seven batters he faced to make it through seven innings. He allowed four hits and four walks, but struck out seven to earn his third win in as many starts.

"I caught my second wind there after the fifth," Arakawa said. "It was nice to be able to put a decent start together."

Stefan (4-4) took the loss, giving up three runs — two earned — on three hits in 4 2/3 innings with six walks and four strikeouts.

The series continues with a day game today at 1:05 p.m.

WAC STANDINGS

Conf

Overall

W

L

Pct.

GB

W

L

Hawaii

6

0

1.000 — 20

14

Fresno State

5

2

.714

11/2

25

5

New Mexico State

4

3

.571

21/2

26

9

San Jose State

3

4

.429

31/2

23

13

Louisiana Tech

2

4

.333

4

17

17

Nevada

0

3

.000

41/2

11

20

Sacramento State

0

4

.000

5

12

24

Yesterday
Hawaii 10, Louisiana Tech 2
New Mexico State 16, San Jose State 8
San Jose State 7, New Mexico State 3
Fresno State 8, Nevada 1
Fresno State 4, Nevada 2
Sacramento State 9, Air Force 6
Sacramento State 3, Air Force 2
Today
Louisiana Tech at Hawaii, 1:05 p.m.,
San Jose State at New Mexico State
Nevada at Fresno State
Air Force at Sacramento State
Tomorrow
Louisiana Tech at Hawaii, 6:35 p.m.

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the TERMS OF SERVICE. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. Because only subscribers are allowed to comment, we have your personal information and are able to contact you. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. To report comments that you believe do not follow our guidelines, email commentfeedback@staradvertiser.com.